Arsenal cruise to 2-0 win against Sevilla in Champions League, need 1pt for next phase

LONDON – Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was happy with his side’s aggressive performance as they edged closer to the Champions League knockout stage.

Leandro Trossard and Bukayo Saka scored in their 2-0 home victory against Sevilla on Wednesday.

The Gunners got back on track after successive domestic defeats, thanks to Trossard’s first-half opener and Saka’s strike after the break at the Emirates Stadium.

With three wins from four Group B games, Arsenal sit in first place, four points ahead of PSV Eindhoven. They will be certain to reach the last 16 if they take one point from their remaining matches at home to Lens and at Dutch side PSV.

Brushing aside Sevilla was the perfect way to erase the bitter taste of a difficult spell, which included a League Cup defeat by West Ham United and the end of their unbeaten start to the English Premier League at Newcastle.

That loss against the Magpies over the weekend, whose winning goal by Anthony Gordon was controversially awarded by VAR, sent Arteta into a sustained fury that had hardly subsided since.

He labelled the decision “embarrassing” and a “disgrace”, while Arsenal backed him in a statement that said the defeat involved “yet more unacceptable refereeing and VAR errors”.

There were no more VAR dramas on Wednesday to provoke the Spaniard into another red mist, as Arsenal made light work of a lacklustre Sevilla, who languish at the bottom of Group B without a win.

“We didn’t need to respond because we played really well against Newcastle. Today we were at home, so we needed different things. I’m really happy with the performance,” Arteta said.

“We showed aggression and commitment. Even when we lost the ball, we were incredibly good to get it back. That’s why we won. It’s hard in Europe to control it how we did.”

Sevilla boss Diego Alonso was understandably disappointed, saying: “We are hurting. Arsenal were the better side. We played badly.

“Of course I accept criticism. We have an opportunity to turn this around in the derby (against Real Betis). We will give everything.”

Arteta had said his side have to be “absolutely ruthless” and make opponents “suffer” if they want a long run in the Champions League this season.

The Gunners followed his message to the letter as they outclassed the Spanish team from start to finish. Driven on by Saka and Gabriel Martinelli’s incisive raids, Arsenal made the breakthrough with a sublime move in the 29th minute.

Jorginho unlocked the Sevilla defence with a superb pass that picked out Saka’s run down the right flank. The winger’s low cross was perfectly placed for Trossard to slot home from close range.

It was Saka and Martinelli who combined to secure the killer second goal in the 64th minute.

Martinelli’s pinpoint pass sent Saka racing into the area and he cleverly cut back inside Adria Pedrosa, before guiding a composed finish past goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic from 10 metres.

There was a slight concern, however, as the winger appeared to twist his ankle in the closing stages, but Arteta said that “he will be OK” despite limping off. REUTERS, AFP